Go Green Youth Centre

Elevating Our Leaders-in-Training (LITs): Highlights from GGYC’s March 2026 LIT Training Day

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:25:00 GMT

On Saturday, March 14, Leaders-in-Training (LITs) accepted for our 2026 March Break Sports & Education Camp gathered at Valley Park Middle School for a day of mentorship, activity-based learning and camp training.

Typically between the ages of 14 and 16, LITs shadow GGYC Coaches to gain hands-on experience. This program offers an excellent opportunity to earn volunteer hours, meet new people, and gain exposure to a work setting while developing essential leadership skills.

10:00 AM | Introductory Remarks

The day kicked off with opening remarks from Executive Director Michael Ma, followed by an energetic, interactive icebreaker on Blooket.

11:00 AM | Workshop with SciXchange from Toronto Metropolitan University

Anushka Noble, a volunteer with TMU SciXChange, led a hands-on workshop using everyday materials and basic chemistry to reveal secret messages. The LITs used baking soda to write their notes, then applied a mixture of turmeric and rubbing alcohol as an indicator. Because baking soda is a base, it reacted with the indicator to turn the hidden messages a reddish-brown color, bringing them to life!

1:00 PM | Training and Activity-Based Learning

Following the lunch break, LITs dove into a series of activity-based learning games designed to sharpen their teamwork and communication—two critical skills they'll put into practice during our March Break Camp! These games were led by Head Coach Mashhood Khan, along with Coaches Ayan Ur Rahman and Zain-Ul-Abideen.

2:45 PM | Mashhood Khan, Guest Speaker

In a session moderated by Mary Giamos, GGYC’s Career Coach and former University of Toronto professional, Head Coach Mashhood Khan shared his journey of growth from participant to LIT and, eventually, to Head Coach. Mashhood surprised the LITs with his relatability, sharing personal anecdotes from his time as a young participant that made his current success feel both inspiring and achievable. You can read about Mashhood's story here .

4:00 PM | Closing Remarks and Final Tour

The day concluded shortly after 4:00 PM with final remarks and a full tour of Valley Park Middle School. Walking the halls helped the LITs visualize their roles and get comfortable with the space before our 2026 March Break Sports & Education Camp officially began!

Elevating Our Coaches: Highlights from GGYC’s March 2026 Personal Development & Staff Training Day

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:42:00 GMT

On Saturday, March 7, the Go Green Youth Centre (GGYC) team gathered at Valley Park Middle School for a day of growth, connection, and preparation. This personal development and training day was designed for our current and returning coaches as they gear up for the 2026 March Break Sports & Education Camp.

The day went beyond typical staff training, diving deep into career exploration, leadership, and the real-world challenges our coaches face—from navigating the job market to building self-confidence.

10:00 AM | Career Exploration with Mary Giamos

After a high-energy round of "GGYC Bingo," Mary Giamos, former career services and education professional at the University of Toronto, shifted the room’s perspective on the future. Her core message? Treat your career as a journey to be explored, rather than a static goal to be reached.

11:00 AM | The Intersection of Business, Finance & Tech

We heard from emerging industry leaders who provided a dive into their respective fields. We wrapped up the session with a high-energy, competitive game of Family Feud.

Donald Truong (Morgan Stanley) demystified the finance world, breaking down barriers and asking our coaches to redefine what they think "finance" actually looks like.

Minh-Anh Vuong (Adobe) shared her inspiring path from business student to product designer in the AI space, highlighting how following personal “signals” can help navigate uncertainty and seize new opportunities.

12:00 PM | Indigenous Foundation & Community Leadership

After an icebreaker of "Stranded on an Island," Sena Yenilmez, Co-Founder of The Indigenous Foundation, spoke about the parallels between community advocacy and personal leadership. She challenged our coaches to find the leader within themselves to better serve our community.

1:00 PM – 4:30 PM | March Break Sports & Education Camp 2026 Training

Executive Director Michael Ma led a deep dive into the specifics of our upcoming camp. Drawing from 1:1 conversations and years of frontline program experience, Michael shared strategies to ensure our coaches are ready to provide an incredible experience for the youth this March Break.

Beyond the Neighbourhood: GGYC Leaders Explore the Labs at York University

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:12:00 GMT

In a special collaboration with Connected Minds , youth from our Leaders-in-Training program visited York University to see what research looks like in practice, who it involves, and how it connects to real lives and real communities.

Detailed York U Connected Minds News Story: Opening the Lab Doors: Why Community Belongs in Research

The day started at 9:00 am when the school bus arrived at Valley Park Middle School.

Andrew Castillo, EDI and Community Outreach Specialist at Connected Minds, guided us to the welcome room.

The event began with students receiving custom name tags and stickers, followed by a light morning snack.

Throughout the day, students heard directly from five faculty members and a support team of PhD candidates and research assistants.

Detailed York U Connected Minds News Story: Opening the Lab Doors: Why Community Belongs in Research

The day concluded at 4 pm, followed by a school bus ride back to Valley Park Middle School.

TELUS Friendly Future Foundation Donates $20,000 to Support Youth-Led STEM Program

Thu, 15 May 2025 23:28:39 GMT

We are thrilled to announce that Go For It Youth Organization has received a Community Board grant from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation for $20,000 to support a free, youth-led computer coding program for youth in Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, and surrounding communities.

“As we gear up for summer 2025, this is excellent news and fits perfectly with our vision of expanding educational opportunities for the youth we serve. I’m excited to see the program in action, led by our youth computer coaches,” said Michael Ma, Executive Director of Go Green Youth Centre.

This innovative program will be part of Go Green Youth Centre’s 2025 Summer Sports and Education Camp. With this funding, we will remove financial barriers, foster strong mentorship opportunities, and inspire young people to explore the exciting world of STEM.

“Through our partnerships with charities supporting youth, we understand the challenges young people in these situations face,” said Nimtaz Kanji, Executive Director of TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. “We are proud to be able to support Go For It Youth Organization, with a Community Board grant in order to help them increase confidence in their knowledge and programming skills, improve their ability to follow structured lessons and ensure readiness for high school and post-secondary education.”

For more information on Go For It Youth Organization, please visit goforityouth.ca , and for more information on TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, visit friendlyfuture.com .

About Go For It Youth Organization

Go For It Youth Organization is the registered charitable partner of Go Green Youth Centre focused on the advancement of education. We believe in the power of education. Our CRA-registered charity is dedicated to providing funding and support for educational initiatives aimed at children and youth living in the neighbourhood improvement areas of Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park and beyond. Partnering with schools, educators, and community members we strive to create a brighter future for them through the power of education.

About TELUS Friendly Future Foundation

TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is a Canadian registered charity that believes all youth, regardless of circumstance, deserve an equal opportunity to reach their full potential. That is why we’re committed to giving youth the opportunity to belong. By funding more than 500 charities each year that provide education and health programs, many enabled by technology, along with providing educational bursaries, TELUS Friendly Future Foundation is helping more than two million youth in communities across Canada build skills, confidence and feel a sense of belonging. In 2023 alone, we provided more than $9 million in grants to 550+ charitable programs across Canada, and close to $2 million in bursaries to 400+ post-secondary students experiencing financial need and who are committed to making a difference in their communities.